Game



Dec. 3o, A1947'. R; s. LANDER f -r AL GAME Filed March 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Roy .5f Latidel Eugene Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE GAME Roy S. Lander and Eugene B. Ley, Dallas, Tex.

Application March 3, 1945, Serial No. 580,810

'7 claims.

1 This invention relates to vnew and useful improvements in games.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved game which is particularly adapted to be operated in such as manner as to be realistic of the outdoor game of football.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved table game apparatus for playing a ball game, whereby the various rules and plays of the outdoor game may be carried out with such similarity as to make the playing of the table game realistic, fascinating and enjoyable, as well as to permit the exercise of considerable skill and dexterity.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved game apparatus including a game board depicting a playing field having spaced apertures through which balls may pass, together with a manually manipulated catcher operated under the board in anticipation of, or in an eiiort to catch, one or more balls falling through the apertures.

A further obj-ect of the invention is to provide' in combination with the playing board a novel means of simulating kicks and passes.

A particular object of the invention is to provide at each end of the board e, transversely movable hanger for supporting a catcher, whereby said catcher may be readily and expeditiously moved in various directions under the eld oi' said board.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved game apparatus which is simple to op-erate and which may be played by opposing sides, of one player each, whereby the final results depend largely upon the ingenuity, alertness and deception employed by the players.

Aconstruction designed to carry out the invention will be llereinafterv described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a readingjof the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View, partly in'section, of a game apparatus constructed in Vaccordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a reduced end elevation of the game board, Y y

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the passA and kick box, partly in section,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the catcher,

Fig. 5 is a reduced, longitudinal, sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the catcher hanger.

In the drawings, the numeral I!! designates generally, a playing board or box-like structure which includes, a eld panel or platform II supported upon upright, longitudinal side rails or sills I2. A false bottom I3 underlies the panel and is supported between the side rails. The latter may be rested upon an ordinary table or other support and, the said rails being of substantially uniform height throughout their lengths, the ield panel is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane. It is-quite desirable to have the surface of the panel II level and when the board is in playing position, if it is found to be otherwise, any expedient may be employed to accomplish this result.

The iield panel II is printed or painted with a rectangular iield i4, which is delined by marginal side lines I5 and end lines I6, located inwardly of the edges of said panel, whereby marginal zones I'I and I8, respectively, are provided along the sides and ends of the iield. The zones I8 represent the end Zones of a football iield. Transvers-ely across the field, the usual parallel stripes or lines I9 are printed or painted and numerals in multiples of 5, ranging from 5 to 50, 'are printed or painted in the side Zones I'I at the ends of the stripes, except at the ends of the stripes adjacent the lines I 6, where the letter G is used to designate the goal lines. It is pointed out that the linev I6 is merely a border line and, thus, the, end zones I8 extend from the goal lines to the end edges of the panel il.

A plurality of circular holes or apertures 2i) bisect the lines I9 and are arranged in regularly spaced rows longitudinally and transversely of the field; the outer rows of holes being adjacent the side lines.

The game is played with balls, indicated at 2l in Fig. 1, which are of such size as to freely drop through the holes 2B. These balls may be of any suitable material, but heavier balls, such as metal or ceramic balls, are preferable.

The false bottom I3 is supported a substantial distance below the panel ll in grooves 22 and 23 formed in the inner surfaces of the side rails i2. Y

tral transverse trough 24. An opening 25 is provided in the lower central portion of the side rail, having the inclined groove 23 formed therein for registering with the lower end of the trough 24, The balls 2l which fall through the openings 20 roll down the bottom I3 to the trough 24 and are discharged through the opening 25 onto the table or other support (not shown) on which the board rests. A U-shaped guard 26 collects the balls Yand this guard preferably formed of bent wire, has its ends slideable in the side rail on each side of the opening 25, whereby said guard may be slid inwardly when the board is' not in use (Fig. 2).

Across each open end of the board, a horizontal hanger rod 21 is transverselyfsecuredby sta'-" ples 28 which are driven into the ends-of the side rails (Fig. 2). A hanger or carrier 29 is mounted to slide on each rod. As best shown'in'- Fig. 6, each hanger includes a ring 30 of sufficient diameter to slide freely on the rod and also to engage in an eye 3l swiveled to the medial portion of a sleeve 32. By this arrangement, the sleeve is suspended from the rod Vand 'may be readily swung, turned and slid 'across the open end of the boardbelow the 'panel II.

A catcher 33 is provided with a long-handle 34 which is mounted to slide in the sleeve 32. On one end of the handle, a ring 35 is suitably secured and an open mesh net 35 is suspended from the ring. The handle is made long enough to permit the net 3% to be freely moved under the transverse row of holes 20 atone end of the board with said handle projecting sufficiently from the hanger 29 at the opposite end of the board to permit it to be held in' the hand of the defensive player. The rods 21 are at such elevations andthe space between the panel II and thebottom I3 is such as to permit the net 35 to be `freely moved to any part of the board in an effort to catch the balls 2I falling `through the holes 20. While the defensive player may be handicapped by using the hanger, the' garnemay be played without same.

A kick and pass box 31 is provided' with'an inclined chute 38 which is shielded by the box cover 39 and a horizontal shelf or platform Ill is disposed at the upper end of the chute. The cover terminates short of the shelf and is spaced high enough above the top of the chute to permit the balls to pass thereunder. The chute is formed with a central ball channel 4I and divergent channels 42 along each side of the central channel. The lower open end of the box is placed toward the defensive player and the offensive player selects a channel and places a ball therein. Due to the cover`39, it is substantially impossible for the defensive player'to see which channel is selected. The ball rolls down thechannel onto the iield I4 and travels in' 'accordance withY the general directions of the channel, finally dropping through one ofthe holeS'Z. The lower edge of the chute 38 maybe hinged to the bottom of the box as lindicated at 43 inFig. 3, while said bottom 'may be detachably connected to the rear wall of said'box by a suitable latch (not shown). The-spaceunder the chute may be used to store the balls. Y

The game is designed tol be played similarly toitheoutdo'or game yof football and, so far'as is practicable, in accordance with the rules thereof. However, the rules may be varied andthe apparatus`may be used to play any game' of which it is capable.

S'tcutzh'gv the game-In playing the `gamebf football, two players representing opposing teams stand or are seated behind each end zone I8. A coin is flipped to determine which player shall kick off. The losing player then prepares to kick which he does by placing the open front end of the box 31 on his own 40 yard line, selecting one of the channels M or 42 and letting one of the balls 2l roll down the same. The opposing player does` not attempt to interfere with the"kick, but allows the ball to roll along the eld I4 until it falls through one of the holes 20. The line in which this hole is located determines the line of scrimmage.

As an example, if the ball rolls into a hole on the 30 yard line, then the 30 yard line becomes thelineof scrimmage and the ball is downed at' this particular'hole with the rst offensive play originating from said hole. In the event theball rolls over the goal line I9, then the 20 yard line becomes the line of scrimmage. If the ball rolls over one of the side lines I5, the play will start on the yard line andhole nearest the point at which the ball left the field.

The playa-The offensive player is now given four balls, significant of four downs If the play originates from a hole on his own 30 yard line, theoffensive player now proceeds to drop a ball through one of the adjacent holes 2l] on the 35 yard line. The defensive player manipulates the catcher 33 under the panel II and endeavors to catch the ball in the net 36. If the defensive player catches the ball, there is no advance and said caught ball is retained by said defensive player. The offensive player must then drop the lsecond ball through one of the adjacent holes in the 35 yard line. Now, if the defensive player fails to` catch the ball, then the play advances to the 35 yard line of the offensive player and the third ball may be dropped through any adjacent hole in'the 4D yard line. Since the balls which the defensive player fails to catch roll down the bottom I3 to the trough 2li and thence out throughA the opening 25 into the guard 2t, such balls are retrieved by the offensive player. In order to make the game realistic, an offensive player may not drop a ballv intoV a hole not adjacent the' hole through which thepreceding ball was dropped, but if he wishes'to ytake a chance' he may rapidly drop from two to four balls through adjacent holes in any of the adjacent lines. The play progresses from lineto line, either until the defensive player catches all four balls or the offensive player succeeds in dropping a ball through one of the 4holes on the goal line and the defensive player fails to catch this ball. If the offensive player fails to score, the play goes over to the other side.

Point after touchdown-After a touchdown or score, an extra point may be made by running the ball. The offensive player is given lonly four balls or plays and starts play on his opponents'20 yard line. The kballs are dropped through adjacent holes, in the same manner and with the same restrictions herei'nbefore eX- plained in an attempt'to reach the vgoal line. Of course, it'requires all four balls to reach the goal line with no gain being made on defensivelycaught balls and the catching A'of any one of the balls preventing the scoring of the extra point."

Passing-An offensive'player desiring to pass may do so at any time by placing the box 31 on the `eld III With its front open end on the line ofscrimmage and directed toward his opponents goal-line. Onef of the channels 4I `or 42 is selected and a ball is permitted to roll down the selected channel onto the field. At no time is a player allowed to impel the ball from the box. Various plays may result from the pass play. If the ball drops through any hole in the field, without being caught by the defensive player, a gain is made to the yard line of the hole through which the ball dropped. If the ball is caught by the defensive player, it constitutes an interception and the play goes over to the defensive player at the point of interception. The offensive player at the same time delivers to the defensive player all of the remaining balls in his possession. If the ball rolls olf the eld, it is returned to the offensive player for another play.

Dropping the balZ.-If the oensive player drops or fumbles a ball and it rolls into any hole back of the line of scrimmage, the line of such hole becomes the line of scrimmage if the ball is not caught by his opponent. 1f the opponent catches the ball, he has recovered a fumble and takes possession of all of the balls so as to change to the offense. If the ball is dropped in front of the line of scrimmage and drops into any advance hole not adjacent to the hole of the preceding player, then the play goes over to the opponent regardless of whether or not the ball is'caught. If a dropped ball rolls olf the eld without entering a hole, the ball is returned to the offensive player without penalty.

To time the game, an ordinary alarm clock may be used. Just before the initial kick off play, the alarm is set to go off in a predetermined period of time, as for instance, minutes. When the bell rings, the playing ceases and the player having the highest score wins.

Those playing this game have found it eX- tremely interesting and quite realistic of the outdoor game of footbal. Considerable ingenuity may be displayed in playing the balls as well as in manipulating the catcher. The use of the kick and pass box makes the game much more competitive and fascinating.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A table ball game including, an elevated game panel having a, playing eld having yard lines depicted thereon and provided with spaced holes along the yard lines of the field, a ball adapted to roll on the bo-ard and to fall through the holes thereof, means below the panel for collecting balls falling through the holes thereof, and a manually manipulatable catcher insertable between the panel and the collecting means for intercepting balls falling through the holes of the panel.

2. A table ball game as set forth in claim 1, with means for movably supporting the catcher.

3. In combination in an indoor ball game, an elevated game board having a field panel provided with spaced holes, a bottom member carried by the board spaced below the panel, the ends of 6 the board between the panel and the bottom member being open, and a ball catcher insertable through the open ends of the board and movable between the panel and the bottom.

4. In combination in an indoor ball game, an elevated game board having a field panel provided with spaced holes, a bottom member carried by the board spaced below the panel, the ends of the board between the panel and the bottom member being open, a ball catcher insertable through the open ends of the board and movable between the panel and the bottom, and a hanger slidably mounted at the open end of the board having swiveled means for movably supporting the catcher.

5. A game device including, an elevated game board having a field panel provided with spaced holes to permit balls to fall therethrough, a transverse support across one end of the board, a hanger slidable on said support having a swiveled member depending below the board, and a playing member carried by the swiveled member and movable therein.

6. A table football game device including, an elevated game bo-ard having a football playing field depicted thereon and provided with spaced holes along the yard lines thereof, said holes being free and unobstructed, a bottom member spaced below the game board for catching balls falling through the holes thereof, the sides of the space between the board and the bottom member, the ends of the space between the board and member open thereacross, and a ball catcher movable in the space between the board and member.

'7. A table football game including, an elevated game board having a football playing eld depicted thereon -and provided with transverse rows of holes, the surface of the playing eld being unobstructed and substantially level, whereby a ball may roll freely on said eld, a bottom member spaced below the game board to permit catching of a ball falling through one of the holes before said ball reaches said bottom member, and a catcher in the space between the board and the bottom member including a ball receptacle and an elongate handle attached to the receptacle and extending from the end of the board when the receptacle is under the medial portion of the board.

ROY S. LANDER. EUGENE B. LEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 600,738 McClure et al Mar. 15, 1898 1,282,418 Haskell Oct. 22, 1918 1,421,575 Schmidt July 4, 1922 1,523,684 Canale et a1 Jan. 20, 1925 1,663,404 Hands Mar. 20, 1923 1,922,904 Warren Aug. 15, 1933 2,001,829 Standidge May 21, 1935 2,048,915 Bayer July 28, 1936 2,196,549 Colaluca Apr. 9, 1940 2,229,180 Larson Jan. 21, 1941 

